Weigela plant named ‘Bokrasopea’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Weigela  plant named ‘Bokrasopea’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and repeat-flowering habit; white-colored flowers that are tinged with red purple and with red purple-colored throats; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Weigela hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BOKRASOPEA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Weigelaplant, botanically known as Weigela hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Bokrasopea’.

The new Weigela plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new compact and repeat-floweringWeigela plants with attractive leaf and flower colors.

The new Weigela plant originated from an open-pollination during thesummer of 2000 of a proprietary selection of Weigela hybrida identifiedas code number 93028, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withan unknown selection of Weigela hybrida as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Weigela plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor inJune, 2007 as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Boskoop, TheNetherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Weigela plant by softwood cuttings inBoskoop, The Netherlands since the summer of 2007 has shown that theunique features of this new Weigela plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Weigela have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bokrasopea’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bokrasopea’ as a new and distinct Weigelaplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading        plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely and repeat-flowering habit.    -   5. White-colored flowers that are tinged with red purple and        with red purple-colored throats.    -   6. Good garden performance.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Boskoop, The Netherlands,plants of the new Weigela differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Weigela are not as compact as plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Weigela and the female parent selection        differ in flower bud and flower color as plants of the female        parent selection have pink-colored flower buds and flowers.

Plants of the new Weigela can be compared to plants of the Weigelaflorida ‘Bristol Snowflake’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsin Boskoop, The Netherlands, plants of the new Weigela differedprimarily from plants of ‘Bristol Snowflake’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Weigela were more compact than plants of        ‘Bristol Snowflake’.    -   2. Plants of the new Weigela and ‘Bristol Snowflake’ differed in        flower bud and flower color as plants of ‘Bristol Snowflake’ had        white-colored flower buds and flowers.    -   3. Plants of the new Weigela had a repeat-flowering habit        whereas plants of ‘Bristol Snowflake’ did not have a        repeat-flowering habit.

Plants of the new Weigela can also be compared to plants of the Weigelaflorida ‘Polka’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons in Boskoop,The Netherlands, plants of the new Weigela differed primarily fromplants of ‘Polka’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Weigela and ‘Polka’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Polka’ had pink-colored flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new Weigela had a repeat-flowering habit        whereas plants of ‘Polka’ did not have a repeat-flowering habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Weigela plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Weigela plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical vegetative plant of ‘Bokrasopea’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Bokrasopea’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the summer in one-gallon containers in anoutdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. and under commercial productionpractices. Plants were three years old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Weigela hybrida ‘Bokrasopea’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Weigela            hybrida identified as code number 93028, not patented.        -   Male or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Weigela            hybrida, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one month at temperatures of            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About six months at            temperatures of 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; greyish brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; relatively compact,            upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; rounded crown;            moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with numerous            lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy plant            form.        -   Plant height.—About 100 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 100 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 8 cm.        -   Angle.—Erect to about 40° from vertical.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 144D.        -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 197D.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 5 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate, tapering.        -   Margin.—Serrulate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 144C. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation,            close to 144C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in            terminal clusters of two to six flowers; flowers face mostly            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Weigela flower            from early to mid-June in Grand Haven, Mich.;            repeat-flowering habit.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Narrowly ovate. Color: Close to 155A tinged with            close to 66C.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Salverform; four to five petals fused            into a tube with separate petal lobes. Petal lobe length:            About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1 cm. Petal lobe            shape: Oblong. Petal lobe apex: Obtuse. Petal lobe margin:            Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Lobe, close to 155A tinted with close to 66C;            throat, close to 66A; color becoming closer to 66C with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Lobe, close to 155A; tube, close to 155A.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five in a single whorl, fused;            campanulate calyx. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Sepal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Five            per flower. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length:            About 5 mm. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 155D. Pistils: Quantity:            One per flower. Pistil length: About 3.5 cm. Style length:            About 3.3 cm. Style color: Close to 155D. Stigma color:            Close to 155D. Ovary color: Close to 144D. Seeds and fruits:            Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants            of the new Weigela.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Weigela have exhibited good    tolerance to rain, wind and have been observed to tolerate    temperatures from about −20° C. to about 33° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Weigela have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Weigela    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Weigela plant named ‘Bokrasopea’ asillustrated and described.